Drury's Principles:
The basic principle, which still governs the selection of reading material for a library, was enunciated by Drury in 1930. It states: "To provide the right book to the right reader at the right time". The reader is the central character. A document is right or otherwise in relation to the reader. It is to be provided when the reader needs it for use. The selector should know the readers and their requirements. He should select only that material which caters to the information, educational and recreational needs of the readers. The selected material should be procured expeditiously to be made available to the user when he needs it. Knowing the needs of the -readers and knowing the documents which can meet these needs is important in making the selection of documents. But more important than this is the creation of an efficient mechanism to ensure the availability of the selected material at the light time. The more important of the principles of Drury's book-selection are given below:
1) Study open-mindedly the community, endeavouring to analyse its desires, diagnose its ailments, provide for its wants and satisfy its needs.
2) Provide for both actual and potential users. Satisfy the former's general and specific demands as far as possible; anticipate the demands which might or should corm from the latter.
3) Enact suitable standards for judging all books and strive to accommodate then.
4) Apply criteria intelligently and evaluate contents for inherent worn:,
5) Survey for recognised groups, reflecting every class, trade, employment, or recreation which develops a natural interest.
6) Be willing to buy, as far as funds permit, the works asked for by specialists and community leaders.
7) Select books that represent any endeavour aiming at human development material, mental or moral.
8) Do not strive for completeness in sets, series, or subjects unless convinced hat this is necessary.
9) Restrain the unduly aggressive patron but recognise the inarticulate one.
10) Aim at getting the best on any subject; but do not hesitate to install a mediocre book that will be read in preference to a superior one that will not be read.
11) Stock the classics and the standard works in attractive editions.
12) Duplicate the best rather than acquire many.
13) Select for positive use. A book should not be simply good, but good for something. It must do service.
14) Develop the local history collection; its items will be sought for in the library.
15) Refrain from bias-personal, literary, economic, political or religious, and select with tolerance and without prejudice.
16) Do not be intolerant of fiction if it measures up to standard. It has educational as ue11 as recreational value and is now the dominant forage of creative art.
17) Buy volumes which are suitable for the library purpose in format as well as in contents, and are attractive and durable in binding, paper, and printing.
18) Get .to know the publishers, their output and specialities; the authors, their works and their ranking; and the costs. In short get to know everything about books.
The above, if followed carefully, may ensure the selection of the best reading for the users.